Electric control device



April 20, 1937. L. J. LlNDE ELECTRIC CONTROL DEVICE Filed Nov. '7, 1935 Inventor. Leonard JLEnde,

Patented Apr. 20, 1937 UNITED STATES ELECTRIC CONTRUL DEVICE Leonard J. Linde, Drexel Hill, Pa, assignor to General Electric Qompany, a corporation of New York Application November 4 Claims.

My invention relates to electric control devices, more particularly to control devices for operating mechanisms, such as mechanisms for closing electric circuit breakers, and has for its principal object the provision of an improved control device wherein a motor starting relay or contact structure is combined with means for mechanically sealing said relay or contact structure in motor energizing position throughout the operatmg cycle of said motor.

My invention will be more fully set forth in the following description referring to the accompanying drawing, and the features of novelty which characterize my invention will be pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification.

Referring to the drawing, Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating my improved control device, in a motor operated cam mechanism, and

Fig. 2 is a side view of part of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1.

i Fig. 1 illustrates a motor operated cam mechanism for actuating a member, such as a member connected to the movable contact structure of a circuit breaker, controlled so that after initial energization of the motor the motor circuit is automatically maintained closed until the end of the cam operation. In this arrangement the motor I operates a cam 2 through suitable gear- :3 ing 3 and cam shaft 4 so as to operate a member 5. The member 5, which is provided with a roller 6 coacting with the operating face 2 of the cam, may form, for example, part of the closing structure of a circuit breaker, clockwise rotation of "it; the cam 2 causing upward movement of the rod 5 and closing of the breaker.

The motor I is suitably energized from a source of current at "I, one terminal of the motor being connected by a conductor 8 to one terminal of the source, and the other terminal of the motor being connected by a conductor 9, relay i0 and conductor II to the other terminal of the source. The relay I0 in turn is provided with an energizing coil l2 which is connected across the terminals of the source I in series with a push button control switch l3.

Referring more particularly to the construction of the relay II], the relay contacts comprise a pair of stationary contacts l4 and I5 connected, respectively, to the conductors H and 9, and acoacting U-shaped bridging member [5 having contact portions l1 and [8 for engaging the contacts I! and I5, respectively. The bridging member I6 is suitably carried by and insulated with re- 7, 1935, Serial No. 48,678

spect to an arm 59 pivotally mounted by means of lugs it at 20 on the relay frame (not shown).

The arm it), which is composed of magnetic material, comprises an armature movable with respect to the magnetic core 2| of the relay coil H2. The arm i9 is provided with a lateral extension l9 to which is connected a spring 22 likewise secured to the relay frame for biasing the bridging member it towards the open position shown. Accordingly, energization of the relay coil l2 upon closing of the control switch l3 causes attraction of the armature l9 in opposition to the tension of spring 22, so that the motor energizing circuit is closed through the relay bridging member it. In the arrangement so far disclosed, the motor [I will continue in operation as long as the switch it is held closed.

For the purpose of automatically insuring proper energization of the motor l throughout the cycle of operation of the cam 2 without reference to the control switch l3 after the control switch is initially closed, the relay I0 is mechanically locked or sealed in motor energizing position immediately after the cam operation starts and is released immediately at the close of the camoperation. Accordingly, momentary closure of the control switch 93 is suflicient to initiate and automatically complete the motor operation. One arrangement for accomplishing this result is disclosed and broadly claimed in my copending U. S. application Serial No. 745,078, filed September 22, 1934, for Circuit breaker operating and control means.

In my improved device, the cam shaft l has secured thereto a locking member comprising a disk-like member 23 which is provided with a discontinuous rim portion 26. This rim forms in effect a peripheral lip or flange which in the present instance is discontinuous for less than degrees. Coacting with the lip 24 is a member 25 likewise pivotally mounted at 20 and biased by a spring 26 against an adjustable stop member 21 which is carried by the extension [9". This arrangement forms a resilient connection between the armature l9 and member 25 when the armature is attracted by its coil, and a comparatively rigid connection when the armature is pulled by its spring 22 to open position.

The member .25 is provided with an offset portion 25 which is arranged opposite the lip 2 so as to clear the disk-like portion 23 at the gap between the lip extremities. In the position shown, the relay ii] is in open circuit position and the member 25 is within the interrupted range of the lip 24. When the cam mechanism is to be operated, the control switch I3 is momentarily closed, resulting in closing of the motor relay contacts and energization of the motor. When the armature i9 is attracted, the member 25 follows and is moved by spring 26 slightly beyond the slip 24 so that after initial rotation of the cam shaft 4 the lip 24 is beneath the extension 25 and holds the relay contacts in closed position until such time as portion 25' can drop off the rim in the manner illustrated by Fig. 1.

While the cam is completing its operating cycle, the member 25 is held by the lip 24 in the contact sealing position as illustrated by Fig.

2. The lip 24, which is positioned on the cam shaft 4 with angular reference to the operating face of the cam 2, automatically releases the member 25 so as to cause opening of the relay contacts and deenergization of the motor at the end of the cam operation.

The adjustment at 21, in combination with the spring bias at 26, enables the member 25 to be closely adjusted with respect to the lip 24 so that quick and positive action is assured. Also, in the event that the cam shaft 4 should accidentally rotate beyond the proper angular position of rest so that the lip 24 overlies portion 25', the resilient connection between the member 25 and armature l9 permits closing of the armature contacts for energizing the motor.

It should be understood that my invention is not limited to specific details of construction and arrangement thereof herein illustrated, and that changes and modifications may occur to one skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of my invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In motor-operated mechanism including a motor and a shaft operated thereby, contact structure for controlling energization of said motor, and means for mechanically sealing said contact structure in motor energizing position comprising a member connected to said shaft, said member having a discontinuous peripheral lip portion, and a member operatively connected to said contact structure normally clearing and lying beneath said lip in the off position of the contact structure, said lip riding under said member and restraining said contact structure in closed position upon initial operation of said shaft for sealing said contact structure in motor energizing position until the end of the cycle of operation of said mechanism.

2. In motor-operated mechanism including a motor and a shaft operated thereby, a relay including a pivoted armature having contacts for controlling energization of said motor, a member movable with and secured to said shaft having a discontinuous peripheral lip portion, a member operatively connected to said relay armature having a portion normally clearing and lying beneath said lip when said mechanism is in a non-operative position, said relay member being movable by said armature so as to ride over and be restrained by said lip after initial movement of said shaft thereby to hold said relay armature in motor energizing position, said relay member being released at a discontinued portion of said lip in accordance with completion of the cycle of operation of said mechanism.

3. In motor-operated mechanism including a motor, a shaft rotatably operated by said motor and an operating cam on said shaft, a relay including an armature having contact structure for controlling energization of said motor, a disklike portion having a discontinuous peripheral lip secured to said shaft, said armature having a member normally lying beneath and clearing said lip in the non-operative position of said cam, means for biasing said member towards said clearing position, and means for initially energizing said relay for actuating said armature and closing the motor circuit, movement of said armature causing movement of said member to a position exteriorly of and above said lip so that after initial rotation of said cam said member is held by said lip in contact sealing position until completion of the operating cycle of said earn.

4. In motor-operated mechanism including a motor and a shaft rotatably operated thereby,

- a relay including a pivoted armature having contact structure for controlling energization of said motor, means secured to said shaft having a. discontinuous peripheral lip, a member resiliently connected to said armature having an oifset portion normally clearing said lip when said shaft is in non-operative ppsition, means biasing said armature and said member towards open circuit position and in a. direction to clear said lip, and means for adjusting said member with respect to said armature so that said offset portion movu through a comparatively small range to a position exteriorly of said lip when said armature is actuated to motor energizing position, consequent initial operation of said shaft causing movement of said lip with respect to said offset portion so that said lip holds said portion in contact sealing position after release of said armature in accordance with the operating cycle of said shaft.

LEONARD J. LINDE. 

